Top adjustable slitter/perforator

Abstract

A low cost, modular, top adjustable slitter/perforator accessory for a machine that feeds paper to an output station is disclosed. The slitter/perforator is positioned just prior to the output station and when actuated places desired combinations of slits and/or perforations in paper passing through it. The accessory allows infinite location adjustments of slits and/or perforations along the width of paper by an operator while the machine continues to transport the paper. The slitter/perforator is automatically shut off when paper is directed to the machine's finisher.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a reproduction machine which feeds imaged copy sheets to an output tray, the improvement of a slitter and/or perforator for slitting and/or perforating the copy sheets immediately prior to their entering the output tray of the machine, comprising: a housing;   at least one first shaft rotatably positioned within said housing in a predetermined plane;   at least one second shaft rotatably supported within said housing, said second shaft being positioned underneath and in said predetermined plane of said at least one first shaft;   at least one perforator unit having a first portion thereof mounted for transverse movement along said at least one first shaft and a second portion thereof mounted for transverse movement along said at least one second shaft, said first portion of said perforator unit including means thereon which contacts said second portion of said perforator unit as said first portion of said perforator unit is moved along said at least one first shaft so that said second portion of said perforator unit moves in unison with said first portion of perforator unit as said perforator unit is moved to a predetermined location; and   a single lock adjustment knob adapted to be turned to facilitate movement of said perforator unit along said first and second shafts, and wherein said single lock adjustment knob includes a threaded portion attached thereto and a movable oval shaped pin mounted on said threaded portion of said single lock adjustment knob, and wherein said single lock adjustment knob is connected to said oval shaped pin and adapted such that as said single lock adjustment knob is manipulated clockwise, said oval shaped pin presses against said housing locking said first portion of said perforator unit against lateral movement.   
     
     
       2. In a reproduction machine which feeds imaged copy sheets to an output tray, the improvement for slitting and/or perforating the copy sheets immediately prior to their entering the output tray of the machine, comprising: a housing;   at least one first shaft rotatably positioned within said housing in a predetermined plane;   at least one second shaft rotatably supported within said housing, said second shaft being positioned underneath and in said predetermined plane of said at least one first shaft;   a perforator unit having a first portion thereof mounted for transverse movement along said at least one first shaft and a second portion thereof mounted for transverse movement along said at least one second shaft, said first portion of said perforator unit including means thereon which contacts said second portion of said perforator unit as said first portion of said perforator unit is moved along said at least one first shaft so that said second portion of said perforator unit moves in unison with said first portion of perforator unit as said perforator unit is moved to a predetermined location;   copy sheet guide means mounted on at least one of said shafts and separate and laterally spaced from said perforator unit; and   means for adjusting the positioning of said perforator unit along said first and second shafts.   
     
     
       3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said copy sheet guide means comprises cylindrical washers that are adapted to stay centered with respect to said perforator unit when adjustments are made to said perforator unit due to contact with low rate spring means, said low rate spring means being adapted to apply side load on said units. 
     
     
       4. The improvement of claim 2, including third and fourth shafts positioned downstream from said first and second shafts and wherein said third and fourth shafts include at least one slitter unit mounted thereon for slitting copy sheets passing therethrough, said at least one slitter unit having a first portion mounted on said third shaft and a second portion which has a slitting blade therein mounted on said fourth shaft; and wherein said copy sheet guide means comprises cylindrical washers that are adapted to stay centered with respect to said perforator and/or slitter units when adjustments are made to said perforator and/or slitter units due to contact with low rate spring means, said low rate spring means being adapted to apply side load on said units.